Bill Kallestad Named Public Policy Manager of the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

DES MOINES, Iowa, (April 14, 2020) — The Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council (DD Council), a federally funded state agency that advocates for the development of services and supports for Iowans with developmental disabilities, has announced the selection of Bill Kallestad as its new public policy manager.

Executive Director Brooke Lovelace states, “Bill brings to the Council over 23 years of experience supporting, advocating and serving people with disabilities. He has demonstrated a true commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities and understands where there are gaps to community supports. Bill will be instrumental in helping the Council be known as the ‘go to’ resource for disability policy.”

When asked why he wants to join the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, Kallestad says he envisions this role as a great opportunity to combine both his extensive experience providing service to individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities and other experience in advocating for needed opportunities for deserved independence.

“I am extremely honored to be chosen for the position. I believe great things can be accomplished with a shared purpose through key partnerships. I look forward to working for the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council to effect change at a system level and influence changes to laws, policies and attitudes that impact and improve the lives of people with intellectual and physical disabilities.”

Kallestad graduated with a master’s degree in public administration from Drake University and a bachelor’s degree in human services from Grandview College. He previously acted as the vice president of programs and services, where he led services focused on quality, authored a staff engagement strategy and lobbied at the federal and state levels through Lutheran Services in Iowa.

For more information, visit http://iowaddcouncil.org, contact the DD Council at 866.432.2846 or send an email to contactus@idaction.org.

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This project was supported, in part by grant number 1801ABSDD, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.